Portable folding clothes drier



April 1, 1958 P. E. EVANS 2,828,864

PORTABLE FOLDING CLOTHES DRIER Filed Aug. 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEYS.

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PORTABLE FOLDING CLOTHES DRIER Filed Aug. 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E y27 ma 5 l 2 l 29 7Q .3z l 30. i"

ATTORNEYS United States Patent" PORTABLE FOLDING CLOTHES DRIER Peter E.Evans, Mount Rainier, Md. Application August 19, 1954, Serial No.450,838 2 Claims. (01. 211-86) This invention relates to clothes driersand more particularly to clothes driers of the portable type designedprimarily for use in providing a drying rack in restricted areas.

An important object of the invention is to provide a clothes drier whichmay be readily and easily installed in a bath room and held in place byfrictional contact with the walls of the room,- thereby eliminating thenecessity of using screws, nails, bolts or similar securing devices thatmar and disfigure the wall of the room in which the drier is positioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes drier which maybe adjusted for positioning between walls of rooms wherein the walls arelocated various distances apart.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a clothesdrier that may be readily folded into a small and compact article forstoring.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts Without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the walls of a bath roomwith the clothes drier forming the subject matter of the presentinvention as installed directly over the bath tub, of the bath room.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental elevational view illustrating one ofthe wall engaging members, as positioned against a wall.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental elevational view partly in section illustratingthe means for exerting pressure against the ceiling of the room forefiecting outward movement of the supporting arms of the device.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view illustrating a modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view through theoverlapped ends of the sections of the supporting arms.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicatesopposite end walls of a bath room, and the reference character 6indicates the bath tub over which the clothes drier or rack issupported.

In the conventional bath room construction, a ledge 7 is provided at thetermination of the upper edge of the tiling which usually covers aportion of the walls of a bath room.

The clothes drier comprises a center block 8 formed with a centralopening over which the plates 9 and 10 are positioned, the plate 9having a threaded opening registering with the opening of the centerblock, while the plate 18 is provided with an opening which registers2,828,864 Patented Apr. 1, 1958 with the opening of the center block,the edges of the opening of the plate 10 being smooth. A threaded rod 11extends through the plates 9 and 10 and is threaded in the opening ofthe plate 9, the upper end of said threaded rod being formed with a head12 secured within the socket 13 of the block 14.

The lower end of the threaded rod 11 extends laterally providing ahandle 15 by means of which the threaded rod may be rotated for purposesto be hereinafter more fully described.

Pivotally connected to opposite side edges of the center block 8, aresupporting arms 16 and 17, respectively, hinges 18 being connectedbetween said supporting arms and centerplate 8, as better shown by Fig.4 of the drawings.

Secured to one end of each supporting arm, is a substantially triangularframe 19, the bar 20 forming a part of each triangular frame beinghingedly connected to the free ends of the arms 19 which form the majorportions of said triangular frames.

These bars 20 being hingedly connected to the supporting arms 16 and 17,will automatically move to a position in close contact with the walls ofthe room, when positioned on the ledge 7 in accordance with theinvention and when outward pressure is directed to the bars 20 due tothe operation of the threaded rod 11, as described. Secured to the innersurfaces of the bars 20, are line hooks 21 which provide means forsupporting the clothes line, which may be positioned by placing theclothes line over the hooks at opposite ends of the drier.

Secured to each bar 20 and extending inwardly therefrom, is a spring arm22 that is designed to contact with the supporting arm 16 associatedtherewith for normally holding the bars 20 in position for properlycontacting the Wall of the room in which the clothes drier is mounted.

The threaded rod 11 extends into the notch 11 which extends inwardlyfrom one end of the bar 12' that in turn is hingedly connected to thesupporting arm 16 at 13'. Wing nuts 14' are provided on opposite sidesof said bars 12' and provide means for clamping the bars 12 to brace thesupporting arms 16 and 17 against accidental inward movements under theweight of articles supported by the device.

In the form of the invention shown by Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, theclothes drier comprises a pair of identical sections, each sectionembodying an arm 23 and an arm 24, the arm 23 having openings in whichthe bolts 25 are positioned, the bolts passing through the slot 26 ofthe adjacent adjustable section 27. Wing nuts 28 are provided on thebolts 25 for drawing the sections of the arms 23 and 27 together afterthey have been properly attached to engage the wall of the room at thepoint where the ceiling merges with the side walls, as better shown byFig. 5 of the drawings.

In this form of the invention substantially triangular wall engagingmembers 29 are provided, at one of the respective ends of the arms 23and 24, which wall engaging members 29 include pivoted bars 30 that reston the upper edge of the usual tiling of the bath room, directly overthe bath tub.

Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, a pair of thesesupporting members may be positioned in a manner as shown by Fig. 5 ofthe drawings and the adjustable end sections of the arms 23 and 24extended so that they fit closely within the corners of the room wherethe ceiling merges with the side walls securely holding the arms insupporting position.

In this form of the invention books 31 are secured to the inner surfacesof the pivoted bars 30, over which the clothes line 32 is laced.

Thus it will be seen that a clothes drier constructed in accordance withthe invention may be readily and easily secured by frictional contactwith the walls of a room, eliminating the necessity of providingpermanent securing means. V w o g Having thus-described theinvention,what is claimed l. A portable clothes drier for installation in a roomhaving'horizontal wall ledges and a ceiling, comprising a block having acentrally located threaded opening, supporting arms having one of theirrespective ends hingedly connected to the opposite side edges of saidblock, wall engaging members pivotally connected to the other ends ofsaid supporting arms adapted to rest on the wall ledges, an adjustingscrew threaded through said threaded opening of said block, a blockswiveled on one end of said screw and adapted to be forced against theceiling of the room, said screw adapted to feed said first mentionedblock-downwardly moving said arms and wall engaging members laterallyagainst the walls and ledges of the room as said screw is rotated in onedirection, and supporting hooks secured to said wall engaging members towhich clothes lines are secured.

2. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, and spring arms connectedto said wall engaging members engageable with said supporting arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

